French Sweets

Fancy pastries. Gourmet chocolate. The colourful macaron.

France has long been associated with the finer things in life, whether it be fashion, wine or cuisine. On a visit to the city of Lyon, the capital of French gastronomy, I was eager to tour the food market where local chefs do their shopping, Les Halles Paul Bocuses. And the tempting array of tarts and cakes kept me busy taking photos. Unfortunately, I was so busy preserving the images that I neglected to sample the goods.

Displays of Tarts and Cakes at Les Halles Paul Bocuse, Lyon

Luxembourg Gardens, Paris

On the Left Bank of Paris in the 6th arrondissement lies the lovely Luxembourg Gardens, Jardin du Luxembourg.  This 60-acre island of tranquility is the city's second largest park and originally formed the grounds of a palace built by Marie de' Medici, the second wife of King Henry IV. The palace is now home to the French Senate.

Luxembourg Palace, Paris

Toronto's Beach Getaway

The east Toronto neighbourhood of The Beach preserves its roots as the city’s first lakeside resort, embracing its aquatic heritage while marrying a thriving commercial district with its cherished parklands. Disagreement continues to this day as to the proper name for the neighbourhood. Is it The Beaches or The Beach? According to local street signs, the latter has won.

La Belle Époque, France's Beautiful Age

I'm excited about an upcoming book release, A Paris Apartment, which tells the story of a woman living in Paris during the belle époque. The years from 1871 to 1914 were a time of indulgence, optimism and innovation which came to an end with the advent of World War I. But the building and artistic endeavours during this period helped shape the Paris that we know and love today.

The city of Paris played host to two World's Fairs during this time. The first exposition in 1889 saw construction of the iconic Eiffel Tower.

Eiffel Tower, Paris

Pompeii Today

The movie Pompeii opened in theatres recently and tells the story of the ancient Roman town destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. Archeologists have unearthed the remains of this civilization beneath the layers of ash and rock, giving us an interesting look at the lives of the ordinary people who once lived here.

The Forum and Mount Vesuvius

Novels for Nervous Flyers

Growing up in the 1960s and 70s I was greatly influenced by movies such as Come Fly With Me and Coffee, Tea or Me? which depicted the glamourous lifestyle of the adventurous airline stewardess. I even dreamed of becoming a flight attendant myself but things change. I also wanted to skydive back then. I haven't done it yet and you won't find it on my bucket list.

Take-off from Nice Airport